Major Academic Policies

(1) Each student must take a minimum of six full-credit courses each year.

(2) Each student must finalize his academic course selections by the announced deadline. Failure
to complete academic course selections for the following school year within the established
schedule will result in a late registration charge.

The academic schedule that a student receives at the beginning of the academic year will be
considered final. Dropping or adding classes after the start of the academic year is permitted only
in cases of clearly demonstrated, serious academic need. Course changes must be initiated by the
classroom teacher within the first three full cycles of the semester. Questions about a student’s
academic placement should be directed to the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs.

(3) No student may take more than two full-credit courses in a particular academic area
each year.

(4) To be eligible for graduation, each student must meet the following requirements:

• Religion 4 Credits
• English 4 Credits
• Foreign Language 2 Credits
• Health and Physical Education 1½ Credits
• Mathematics 3 Credits
• Science 3 Credits
• Social Studies 4 Credits
• Electives 4 Credits

Students must take one computer literacy course beyond Introduction to Computers. A student
who demonstrates advanced computer skills may test out of this requirement.

(5) In extraordinary circumstances, exceptions to the above policies may be granted by the
Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs.

(6) Report cards are issued at the end of each quarter.

(7) Grades issued at the end of the first and third quarters indicate the quality of the student’s
work at that point in the semester. These mid-semester grades do not appear on the student’s
permanent record.

(8) Grades issued at the end of the first and second semesters appear in the Semester column of
the report card. This grade is an evaluation of the student’s work for the entire semester.

(9) At the end of a full-year course, the final grade is the exact mathematical average of the first
and second semester grades.

(10) A final grade of 69% will be raised one point.

(11) All grades, once submitted, are final. A grade will be changed ONLY upon demonstration
of a computation error.

(12) Honor Roll: The Honor Roll is published and certificates are distributed at the end of each
quarter. A student’s Honor Roll status is indicated on the quarterly report card. The Honor Roll
in June is calculated on the second semester grades (not the final grades).

The Honor roll is determined by calculating the Simple Quality Point Average during a given
quarter. Level 1 under the Quality Point System (see appendix) indicates the values given for
Honor Roll purposes. To determine the Simple Quality Point Average add the quality points under Level 1
for each grade in each course and divide by the number of courses.

•  High Honors
•  A simple Quality Point Average of 3.5 and higher
•  A minimum grade of 75% in each subject
•  A record of regular attendance
•  Honors
•  A simple Quality Point Average of 3.2 to 3.49
•  A minimum grade of 75% in each subject
•  A record of regular attendance

(13) Advanced Placement: All students enrolled in Level 5 (AP) classes are required to take the AP
examination for each class as a course requirement.

(14) College in High School: Central Catholic students may gain “College in High School” credit
in several courses through the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and La Roche
College. Dual enrollment (taking a Central Catholic course for which transcript credit is also
awarded by the sponsoring college or university) remains the decision of the student and his
parents. By enrolling for credit through the college or university, the student assumes the financial
responsibilities and work requirements outlined by each credit-awarding institution. Although
the dual enrollment option provides a significant educational opportunity, no student is obligated
to enroll in the College in High School program.

(15) Class Rank: Student class rank is based upon a Quality Point System (see page 17) that weighs
grades for each course. The selection of the Senior Class Valedictorian is based upon cumulative
Quality Point averages (cQPA) at the end of seven semesters of high school (2nd Quarter of the
senior year). The student with the highest cQPA is named Class Valedictorian; the Salutatorian is
the student with the second highest cQPA.

(16) Summer School: A student with a failing grade on his record may not return to Central
Catholic. A failing grade can be removed by successful completion of Central Catholic Summer
School or an accredited public or private summer school program.

A tutoring option will be granted only if our Summer School Principal and the Assistant Principal
for Academic Affairs agree that sufficient reason exists. Written approval must be obtained from
the Summer School Principal before the first day of summer school. Tutors, other than those
arranged through the Summer School Principal, must possess a valid state teaching certificate and
must present notarized documentation to the school that the equivalent of 60 hours of combined
instruction and student-generated assignments has been completed satisfactorily.
 

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